More detail on this person: Methuen, MA. - Highly Decorated US Army Pilot Loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather LTC Bentley J. Herbert Sr., USA Retired, of Methuen, Massachusetts, and formerly of Cape Neddick, Maine, died February 28, 2020, at Lawrence General Hospital, after a period of declining health, surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of Marilyn (Donnelly) Herbert with whom he shared 64 years of marriage. Born in Bangor, Maine, on January 26, 1932, he was the son of the late Thomas R. and Louise E. (Aucoin) Herbert. He graduated from Bangor High School in 1950 where he was a standout athlete on the football, basketball and baseball teams. While attending Maine Maritime Academy, he was drafted by the Boston Braves AAA Minor League for his outstanding abilities as a "tall, strong, right-handed pitcher". He later went on to earn a degree in Business Economics from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He entered the U.S. Army on October 8, 1953, serving at numerous installations both state-side and in Mainz Germany while raising his family. He served in Korea and two tours in Vietnam with the First Cavalry Division as a Company Commander in 1965 and as a Battalion Commander in 1968. His primary mission was to retrieve downed helicopters from battle zones. He was awarded numerous commendations and decorations during his military career, most notably the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal with 3 bronze devices, Distinguished Service Medal and Army Aviator Badge (MASTER). LTC Herbert was honorably discharged on November 30, 1972. After proudly serving his country, Col. Herbert owned and successfully operated a life insurance agency in Lowell, MA until 1992. He and Marilyn retired to Cape Neddick, Maine, where he enjoyed biking, running, golfing, boating and tending to his lobster traps. He most notably enjoyed time spent along the coast with his cherished children, grandchildren, and extended family. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children; Lauren Callery and her husband Mike, Wendy Donahue and her husband John, and Bentley (Jamie) Herbert Jr. and his wife Donna; nine grandchildren, Jennifer Lacasse and her husband Steve, Jonathan Donahue and his fiancé Georgina Canney, Katherine Donahue, Brendan Donahue, Kyle Herbert, Juliann Callery and her partner Jake Cannon, Melissa Herbert, Liam Donahue, Dan Donahue, and two great-grandchildren, Steven and Kayla Lacasse, as well as a sister, Mona Trafton and her partner Bob Gaboury, a brother-in-law, Warren Hall Sr., and many nieces, nephews and dear friends. He was the brother of the late Joey, Frank, Thomas and Mike Herbert and Mary Hall. Friends will be received at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 170 Old Westford Road, Chelmsford, Massachusetts, on Saturday, March 7th from 10 to 11:45 AM, followed by a funeral service at 12 PM. Interment at a later date in the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Springvale, Maine. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the VFW Post 6977, 75 Cape Neddick Road, York, Maine 03909. Arrangements in the care of the MORSE-BAYLISS Funeral Home, Lowell. Funeral Director, Frederick W. Healy. Please visit Col. Herbert's Life Tribute at morsebaylissfuneralhome.com Published on March 4, 2020
Burial information: Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery, Springvale, ME
This information was last updated 04/13/2020
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association